Improvement in book-clamps



'w. A. MILLER.

Bunk-Clamps. 510,145,582, Patented Dec.l6,1873.

Witnesses: l Inventur: Mwmwj Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. MILLER, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-CLANIPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,582, dated Deccmbcr 16,1873; application filed September 2.7, 1873.

To all whom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ALLEN MIL- LER, of Paterson, Passaic county, New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Book-Clamps, of which the following is a specification Figure l is a longitudinal section of my improved book-clamp empty and closed. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same arranged for use, and Fig. 3 is a modification of the same.

The invention will Jfirst be fully described and then 4pointed out-in the claim.

A and B are two strips of wood of suitable length to receive the books. C is the strap which is passed through transverse slots in the'ends of the strips A B, and is secured by a friction-clasp, D, or other convenient buckle. The lower side of the lower strip A is grooved longitudinally to receive the strap C, so that it may slip when the weight is upon it, and so that it may not be worn by setting down the bundle. E is a metallic bar, standard, or lever, which is made with a wide base, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and with a transverse slot near its upper end for the passage of the strap C. The lever E is hinged to the strip B at one of the side edges of its base by a metallic strap or keeper, or by other convenient means.

The lever E may be made in the form of a frame, if desired.

The upper end of the lever E above the transverse slot may be beveled, as shown in Fig. l,

so as, when turned down, to allow the strap C to pass through as nearly as possible in a straight line. For the same purpose, the opposite side of the lever below the transverse slot may also be beveled.

The transverse slot in the end of the lever E is made deeper than the thickness of the strap G, so as to serve as a keeper for the free end of the said strap C when the clamp is applied to a small bundle.

In using the clamp the books are placed between the strips A B, as shown in Fig. 2, with the lever E lying down, as shown in Fig. 1. The strap C is then buckled loosely, and the lever E is raised into an erect position, as shown in Fig. 2. This draws the strap C tight and presses the strips A B snugly upon the books, making a firm and secure bundle. The upper part of the strap, being raised from the strip B, forms a convenient handle for carrying the bundle.

If desired, the stripsA B may be omitted and the lever E hinged, in the manner hereinbefore described, to a plate, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lever E may be cast solid, or it may be made of wire bent into the proper form.

The base-plate, when used, may be made ot' metal, wood, or other suitable material, and, when made of metal, its lower surface should be faced with cloth or other suitable substance to prevent it from injuring the books.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent- A book-Clamp, consisting of a base-plate, B, a fastening-strap, C, buckle D, and a hinged tightening-lever, E, combined as described.

VILLIAM ALLEN MILLER.

lVitnesses J AMEs T. GRAHAM, T. B. MosHER. 

